Swimming pool



Dec. 30, 1930. J. PIHOOPER 1,736,613

SWIMMING POOL Filed June 2, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 30, 1930.

J. P. HOOPER 1,786,613

SWIMMING POOL Filed June 2. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. P. HOOPER SWIMMING POOL Dec. 30, 1930;

s Sheets- Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1928 Patented Dec. 30, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT. orrlce JAMES P. HOOPER, or'RU XfroN, MARYLAND, AssrGNon 'ro WM. n. iroornaa-sons,

COMPANY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION'OF MARYLAND= SWIMMING 1 001;

Application filed June 2, 1928. Serial No. 282,415.

5 semi-public pools and crowded bathing resorts are opentoobjection on sanitary grounds.

The object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool which is comparatively cheap to construct and which is of a knock-clown or folding type so that it is easily within the reach of the majority of families and canbe set up on the lawn or any other available space, as a basement, porch or other floor. The knock-down feature makes the pool easily portable, effecting a considerable saving in the initial expense of delivery and installation, also making it feasible to-pack the apparatus within comparatively small dimensions for the winter or for any period within which it is not in use.

' The pool, which is the subject of the invention, is of canvas or similar fabric which is water proofed and otherwise treated so that it effectively resists mildewing and consequent deterioration. i

The canvas is supported by a. metalframe which may be pinned to the lawn or other earth foundation or bolted together to stand on a concrete or other floor. The frame, as already pointed out, is of the knock-down type which can be stowed in a comparatively small space and easily transported.

In the accompanying'drawings I have illustrated a pool embodying the features of my invention in the preferred form.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pool.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, the same being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the top rail or ring and corner uprights.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the manner of connecting the center uprights to the top rail. V

Figure. 6 is a detail view in the nature of an outside'elevation showing a fragment of the side wall and particularly the manner of clamping the tension straps to the uprights;

'Figure 7 is a section on'the line 7-7 Figure 6 looking downwardly,

' Figure 8 is a top plan view of the pool in a modified formin which it is adapted to be set upon a concrete or other floor, the ground pins illustrated in connection with the form being eliminated. 1

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts. inthe different figures, the portable swimming pool, which is the subject of the invention, consists of a knock-down frame 1 whichsupports a canvas bag or container 2v of suitable'shape and holds the same in dis'-- tendedposition with the sides upright, the bottom flat and the top substantially horizontal in order that it may serve, when filled with water from any source, the purposes of aswimmingpool.

' More particularly, the'frame 1, in the form of the invention shown,c onsists of a plurality of uprights 4 which, in the particular form of pool illustrated, the exact details of which are non-essential, are eight in number, three on each side and one at each end. Each of these uprights 4is formed into an integral truss 5providing a base 6 which projects outwardly from the bottom of each upright, and a diagonal brace 7 on the outside which is connected at one end to the upright 4 near the top andat the other end to the outer end of the base. These triangular trusses, lncluding the upright 4, are preferably formed of small channel iron and the corners, as shown, are stiffened by means of flat plates 9 riveted to the flanges 10 of the channel irons, which flanges are turned inwardly toward the inside of each truss forthis and other purposes.

The trusses 5 are, as will be noted particularly from Figure 1, arranged in pairs of opposite truss members 5, i. e., the two truss members 5, 5, at the opposite ends of the pool The two transversely oppothe left, i. e., at corners 45 and 46 in Figure 1, form another pair. The two opposite center trusses on the two sides at 54 and 55 form the third pair and tlie two transversely opposite cornertrusses at *the form one pair. site trusses 5, 5,.at

right at corners 47 and 48 in Figure 1 form the fourth pair.

The trusses of each pair are separably connected at the bottom by tie rods on which the bases 6 of the trusses rest and to which they are pinned, in the preferred form of the invention, by means of ground pins 11 which, when the pool is set up on a lawn or other earth support, are driven down into the ground. The longitudinal tie rod connecting the end trusses is indicated by reference character 12 in Figure 1 and the transverse tie rods connectin the transversel on osite' trusses 5 at the corners and at the center are indicated by reference character 14, which refers to the tie rod connecting the trusses at the opposite left hand corners, 15 connecting the middle trusses and 16 connecting the corner trusses at the right in Figure 1.

In the form illustrated in Figure 1, the bases 6 of the trusses 5 are further separably connected, at the lower ends of the uprights 4 by diagonal tie plates 18 connecting the corner trusses at the ends of the tie rods 14 and 16 respectively with the respective bases of the end trusses at the ends of the tie rod 12, and tie plates 19 connecting the corner trusses 5 at 45, 46, 47, 48 and the corresponding center trusses 5 at 54, 55. The tie plates 18 and 19 are held at the ends by the ground pins 11 adjacent the bottom ends of the up rights 4, it being understood that all the parts referred to as pinned are perforated or drilled to receive the pins.

The trusses 5, or more particularly the uprights 4 forming the upright members of the trusses, are also separably connected at the top by the top ring member 20, which is formed in separable sections for convenience in transportation.

In the preferred form of the invention shown, the ring 20 is in four sections, two of which sections 21 and 22, one at each end, are semicircular; the other two sections 24 and 25, each of which connects the two corner and the center trusses on one of the respective sides, being straight. The sections may be joined at their ends to each other and to the uprights and intcrmediately to the uprights in any suitable and convenient manner.

Figure 4 illustrates in detail the preferred manner of connecting the ends of the ring sections, i. e, the end sections 21 and 22 to the middle sections 24 and 25. and to the uprights. In the form of the invention shown. these sections are separably connected by means of pins 26 and projecting oppositely from the top of the corner uprights. These pins may be integral with a flat shank 28 which is placed in each corner channel 4 at the top and secured thereto by bolts 29. In this way the top of each corner upright is formed into a T, as shown in Figure 4.

The pins 26 and 27 are, in accordance with the form of the invention shown, of a diameter to fit inside the top ring, which is preferably of elliptical cross section as shown at 20 in Figure 3, the pins being of a corresponding section and being preferably shouldered at to form a suitable abutment flush with the ends of the sections of the top ring or tube 20. The ends of the ring sections are held in engagement with the pins 26 and 27 in the form of the invention shown by means of screws 31, the ends of the tubes and the pins being correspondin ly drilled at 32 and threaded to receive the screws, or pins may be substituted for the screws.

The object in making the top ring in the preferred form of oval cross section is to provide an excess resistance to vertical, or sub stantially vertical stresses, due to the weight of the water and possibly to the weight of bathers who may use the top rail or ring as a support or seat.

In the form of the invention shown, the top ring is secured to the uprights 4 at the centers of the sides at 54 and 55 and at the ends at 52 and 53 by means of a member 49, see Figure 5, which may be a casting having a shank like the shank 28 of the casting, Figure 4, secured in the channel of the upright 4 near the top, said casting terminating at the top in a sleeve 51 which receives and encloses the top ring or support 20 at the intermediate points 52 and 53 at the opposite ends and 54 and 55 at the middle of each side between the corners 45, 46, 47, 48. These rings may be slipped over the top ring sections 21, 22, 24, 25, in setting up and knocking down or removed from the uprights 4.

The bag or cover 2 is, when the pool is assembled, placed inside the frame and, in the form of the invention shown, it is secured to the frame at the top by folding the top edge or flap 33, which is formed on the top of the cover or bag, outwardly over the top rail or ring 20 and lacing the flap in position, the top edge of the bag and the flap being provided with eyelets 34 to receive a suitable lacing The canvas receptacle is, in accordance with the preferred form of the invention shown, further strengthened and supported. by means of webbing bands or straps 86 which encircle the pool, being connected to the uprights 4 of the trusses 5 by means of clamps or snubbcrs 38, see particularly Figures 6 and 7.

These snubbers, in the preferred form of the invention shown, consist each of a center plate 39 which fits into the channel of which the upright is formed and is secured thereto by means of a bolt 40. The ends of each snubbcr are formed each into a loop or arm 41 which extends over or around the corresponding flange 10 of the upright channel, each arm being bent backwardly so that its outer portion or end 42 is in or near the plane of the web 43 of the upright channel 4.

The clamps or snubbers 38 are used to hold the webbing bands 36 in position on the uprights 4 and incidentally to hold the tension in the bands and prevent excessive bulging of the fabric due to the weight of the water on the sides. Before the pool is filled the bands are easily drawn through the snubbers which clamp the bands in opposition to the pressure applied to the fabric and to the uprights by the water in the tank when the pool is filled.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the bottom of the canvas receptacle is protected from the frame and from stones or other projections on the ground by means of a ground cloth 57 which, to the best advantage, is placed within the frame, resting on the bottom members of the frame and on the ground or floor, before the fabric bag or receptacle 2 is placed in position.

The drawing shows a ladder member 58 which stands on the ground and rests against the top ring 20, serving as a convenient way for entering and leaving the pool.

Figure 8 illustrates in plan a second form of pool, particularly adapted for use on a floor of concrete or other material. In this form the ground pins are replaced by short bolts and 61. This form of pool, in addition to the tie plates 18, 19, shown in the first form of the pool, includes an additional set of outside tie plates 62 separably connecting the corner trusses and the center trusses, and 63 connecting the end and corner trusses. These outside tie plates 62 and 63 connect the outer ends of the bases 6 of the trusses 5, being Secured thereto by bolts 60.

In the use of the invention, the frame is knocked down and the bag or receptacle removed and rolled for transportation. When the structure is delivered at the point where it is to be used, the tie rods 12, 14, 15, 16 and tie plates 18, 19, are laid on the ground substantially in the arrangement shown in Figure 1. The trusses 5 including the uprights 4 are then placed with their bases 6 on the end portions of the respective tie rods 12, 1st, 15, 16, and are then pinned by means of the ground pins 11 passed through suitable registering holes 13 in the respective overlying members,

' the set of ground pins 11 nearest the inside of the pool being passed through the respective ends of the tie plates 18, 19, as well as through the ends of the tie rods 12, 1 1, 15, 16. The top ring 20 is then placed in position, the meeting ends of the ring sections 21, 22, 24, 25, receiving the pins 26, 27, at the top ends of the corner uprights, which ends are secured to the pins by means of the screws 31.

For convenience in assembling, the sleeve members 19, 51, Figure 5, may be shipped disconnected from the uprights by removal of the bolts 50 and secured in position on the uprights in assembling by inserting and tightening these bolts, or may be slipped over the sections of ring 20. The bottom cloth 57 is then placed in position, covering the bottom of the frame and the portion of the ground or floor enclosed thereby and the bag or receptacle 2 is inserted in the frame on top of the ground cloth,being laced thereto at the top. The bands 36 are passed through the snubbing clamps 38, drawn to the desired tension and then connected at their overlapping ends by bolts 66, see Figure 2. The poolmay then be filled by means of a hose to the desired level, which in the commercial form of the pool illustrated, is about four feet and three inches. In the preferred form of the invention, the pool is provided with a connection 67 for an outlet hose 68 near the bottom at one end, which hose may be used for watering the lawn or for any convenient purpose, a small sprinkler 69 being shown for. this purpose in this connection.

o I have thus described specifically and in detail a swimming pool embodying the features of'my invention in the preferred form in order that the construction and manner of using the same may be clearly understood, however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. 7 y I t What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable swimming pool comprising a fabric bag and a knock-down frame supporting the bag, means for attaching the bag to the frame at the top, said frame comprising uprights in the form of separate trusses,

tie rods at the bottom, each separably con-,

necting a pair of opposite trusses, tie plates at the bottom separably connecting the adjacent trusses at an angle to the tie rods and means separately connecting the uprights at the top.

2. A portable swimming pool comprising a fabric bag and a knock-down frame supporting the bag, means for attaching the bag k to the frame at the top, the frame comprising uprights each having an elongated base, tie rods connecting the bases of the uprights, ground pins extending through the bases of the uprights, and securing them to the ground and to the tie rods, through which they also pass, and means separably connecting the tops of the uprights.

3. A portable swimming pool comprising a fabric bag and a knock-down frame supporting the bag, means for removably attaching the bag to the frame at the top, said frame comprising uprights, means separably connecting the uprights at the top and at the bottom and webbing strips supporting the fabric, said strips extending in the direction of the circumference of the pool, and means for clamping the strips to the uprights.

4. A portable swimming pool comprising a fabric bag and a knock-down frame supporting the bag, means for attaching the bag to the frame at the top, said frame compris-' ing uprights of channel shaped cross sections, means connecting the uprights at the top and at the bottom to form a rigid frame, webbing strips connecting the uprights in the direction of the circumference of the pool,

and means for clamping the strips to the up-.

rights, said clamps comprising means adapted to be seated in the channel of the upright and having eyes to pass the fabric, portions of the clamps extending from the channel outwardly over the flanges of the channel and backwardly toward the Walls of the pool, whereby the fabric bands are bent sharply about the channel uprights and held by a snubbing action.

5. A portable swimming pool comprising a fabric bag and a knock-down frame supporting the bag, means for attaching the bag to the frame at the top, said frame comprising uprights each having an elongated base, tie members connecting the bases at the bottom, ground pins for securing the tie members to the bases, :1 top ring formed in sections, means for separably securing the adjacent ends of the sections to certain of the uprights.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 31st day of May, 1928.

JAMES P. HOOPER. 

